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[moominmuppet]

This is amazing:

The Antikythera mechanism has been discovered to be a mechanical computer of an accuracy thought impossible in 80 BC, when the ship that carried it sunk. Such sophisticated technology was not thought to be developed by humanity for another 1,000 years. Its wheels and gears create a portable orrery of the sky that predicted star

Comments

[calebbullen]

can we tag and tattoo everyone then by religion? I think that could be fun. Especially if they mixed up the symbols. tattoo pink triangles on all the christians, black fists on all the jews, yellow stars of david on all the muslims, red crescents on all the atheists, then use the other lucky charms for the rest of the religions.

I can't see why anyone would be upset about that. And then if they are and wouldn't like to be branded as such themselves, mayhap it would remind them why it's not a good idea for anyone else either.

[firinel]

Especially if they mixed up the symbols. tattoo pink triangles on all the christians

*coughs* there are gay Christians.

[calebbullen]

And there are militant black jews, so what?

[firinel]

Perhaps I misunderstood your point. I'd thought your point was that things would be mixed up, ie: particular symbols with things which do not go with the people they're representing. I spoke for gay Christians because I felt a personal right to be able to, where as I am not, nor know, any militant black Jewish people, so don't.

[calebbullen]

So gay christians, for whom you can speak, wouldn't mind the govt tattoing them with a pink triangle because it wouldn't be a wholly inappropriate symbol for them?

I find that hard to believe. I think most people would find any govt mandated marking of their demographic by religion, sexuality, income, etc. demeaning and offensive.

For those who might not mind at first blush, who are prone toward blind patriotism, I think that a symbol that probably wouldn't traditionally represent what they're being branded as, might make them think twice about it.

That said, I would be wholly amused to see Fred Phelps with a pink triangle tattooed on him or Louis Farrakhan with a yellow star of david tattoed on him and would be willing to pay the price of any tattoo on my own person. That last statement isn't actually true but it would be, none the less amusing.

[firinel]

So gay christians, for whom you can speak, wouldn't mind the govt tattoing them with a pink triangle because it wouldn't be a wholly inappropriate symbol for them?

No, that's not at all what I said or implied, and believe you to have willfully misconstrued it for the sake of being arsey, so won't bother commenting further.